02-19-06-Year of Jubilee-Heal the Broken-hearted
Luke 4:18-19 (KJV, NKJV) The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
In this third message on our series about the Year of Jubilee, we want to focus on the phrase that is found in the KJV/NKJV as well as in Isaiah—“to heal the brokenhearted.” It is unfortunate that many of the newer translations leave this phrase out. But by comparing the passage in Luke 4:18 with the passage in Isaiah 61:1, that Jesus was quoting from, we can see very clearly that this was definitely a part of Jesus’ message. (A study of the Greek text shows that this phrase very clearly is there, but translators have chosen to either leave it out all together or combine it with other phrases in the passage. In fact in the Greek it literally reads “he has sent me to heal the broken of the heart.”)
Last week we looked at the fact that Jesus said He had been anointed to preach the gospel (good news) to the poor. As the Messiah (Anointed One of God), Jesus came to be a preacher, but not only did He come to preach, He also came to be a Healer. In this part of the scripture, Jesus says He was sent to heal the brokenhearted. He did not come just to tell (preach) brokenhearted people that they could be healed, but He was sent to bring the healing that they need.
We have learned that the Year of Jubilee is a time of liberty, restoration, release, rest, thanksgiving, and faith for God’s people. But how can we enjoy our Year of Jubilee if we still carry the wounds in our heart of the guilt and shame of sin? Although we have been set free from the bondage of sin, many of us still suffer from the guilt of sin. We feel like we are not worthy to come to God and we do not feel that we are of any value to Him and His kingdom. Jesus came to bring healing so that our hearts can be completely whole and we can no longer carry the wounds that sin brought into our lives.
Not only does sin cause our hearts to be broken, but the loss of loved ones through death or divorce, loss of a job, pet, or any kind of loss. The grief that we suffer due to the difficulties we face in life can be unbearable at times and we can literally feel like our heart is broken into two pieces. Jesus not only came to heal us physically—as He did many people while He was here (e.g. lame man, blind man, lepers, woman with issue of blood) and spiritually from the bondage of sin, but also emotionally. Thank God that Jesus came to be a Healer of the emotional pain we suffer as well as the physical and spiritual pain.
Isaiah 61:1 (NASB, NIV) “He has sent me to dbind up the brokenhearted”
Jesus was sent by God to bind up the wounds of those whose hearts have been broken. As one who has had a broken heart healed by Jesus, I can tell you that this is a powerful truth that is needed as much today as it was when Jesus was here on earth.
This is an interesting phrase, “to bind up” the brokenhearted, because when a person’s heart is broken it must be bound together again to heal. Much like a deep cut or open wound that needs to be stitched to draw the skin back together so the healing can take place. If the cut is not stitched, then the wound will not heal properly. This takes personal, tender, loving care and attention and shows that the Messiah would not be a God that didn’t care about us. So Jesus, the Messiah, is the one who personally came to bind our wounds together so our broken hearts can heal.
Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Psalm 34:18 18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
What does it mean to be “broken-hearted”? The Greek word means to be “crushed, bruised, broken to shivers, and broken in pieces (like pottery that has shattered).”
Brokenhearted-4937 συντρίβω [suntribo /soon·tree·bo/] v. From 4862 and the base of 5147; TDNT 7:919; TDNTA 1124; GK 5341; Eight occurrences; AV translates as “bruise” three times, “break” twice, “broken to shivers” once, “brokenhearted + 2588” once, and “break in pieces” once. 1 break, to break in pieces, shiver. 2 to tread down. 2a to put Satan under foot and (as a conqueror) trample on him. 2b to break down, crush. 2b1 to tear one’s body and shatter one’s strength.[i]
When I was going through a time of grief due to the death of my first wife and my oldest son, I felt like my heart had literally been broken into two pieces and crushed. The Lord showed me a vision of a broken heart bound together with a gauze bandage and a cross on top of it. I knew this meant that Jesus was the one who would be able to put my broken heart back together. When G.G. and I were sharing our stories with each other shortly after we met, she said she had a similar vision and out of the healed heart came many healthy hearts. This is how we got our logo for Healing Hearts Ministry (show logo on Power Point). Our broken heart is healed by the cross (Christ) and from our healed heart come many other healthy hearts. Not only can we tell you, but we can show you, that the power of the Messiah is real and able to heal because He has done it in our lives. This is why this message is so dear to us. We want everyone to know that Jesus came for the purpose of binding up broken hearts and healing them.
Last week we talked about how in order to truly understand what Jesus was saying we have to learn to think like a Jew would have thought when they heard Jesus read this scripture. Remember that when they heard this scripture quoted, because of their training in the Law, they would have remembered and thought about more than we normally would. So let’s go back to Isaiah 61 and look at the end of v.2-3 as a Jew might look at it:
(NIV) . . . to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.
Who are those who mourn and grieve? Obviously, those who have suffered a loss. But, what loss is Isaiah talking about here? He is talking about grief over the city of Jerusalem. You see they were in exile at Babylon when this was written. The city of Jerusalem was destroyed and there was no more temple to go to worship. The word Zion refers to a hill in Jerusalem that the city was built upon. However, Isaiah also writes prophetically about the future, so many times when the scripture refers to Zion, it is talking about the restored people—those who come back from exile. Zion is also a type of the church—those who have been called out and brought back to God by His mercy and grace. So this verse is also talking about those of us in the church that mourn or grieve.
What does it say God will do for those of us who are grieving? First, it says He will comfort us. When your heart is broken, there is no comfort like that of the Lord. He becomes all that you need.
Many times when I was going through my time of grief, I would crawl up in my Abba, Daddy’s lap and cry. He would hold me and let me cry for hours until I was finished, then His peace would flood over me and I would know that it would be OK. He never scolded me for my weakness or lack of faith, but simply encouraged me that everything would be alright. This is something that I have had to do many times in my life when I feel discouraged or disappointed because life does not go the way I thought it should. Jesus understands our weaknesses and came to bring comfort to us when we are hurting and our hearts are broken.
Heb 4:15-16 (NIV) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
He will give us a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair and heaviness.
“The expression “beauty for ashes” is quite meaningful. Jewish mourning included wearing of sackcloth, i.e., coarse and drab clothing, and spreading dust and ashes upon one’s head. On the other hand, a happy occasion called forth splendid and colorful garments and the pouring of expensive and fragrant ointment upon one’s head. “Mourning” can be replaced with “joy,” and “the spirit of heaviness” can be cast aside for an eternal “garment of praise” (v. 3).”[ii]
The spirit of heaviness means that they keep to themselves (Zion’s mourners weep in secret); but the joy they are clothed with is as a beautiful garment in the eye of others. Where God gives the oil of joy He gives the garment of praise. The comfort He gives causes thanksgivings to God.
God gives us bright new clothes of beauty, sweet perfume, and a spirit of thanksgiving and praise in place of the old drab, stinking, depressing clothes of grief. He anoints us with His oil of gladness and joy. David said it this way:
Psalm 23:4-5 (NIV) Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (through the darkest valley), I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
But we must remember why God does this—it is so that we will become mighty trees of righteousness, planted by God. The word translated trees could be translated as a strong tree, oak, or sometimes as a mighty one. The oak tree represents greatness, strength, and a tree capable of enduring all of the unpleasant elements of nature. God’s righteousness is that which makes His people as oak trees. That means that He makes us strong when the winds of life blow so that we will bend but not break. It is His strength that helps us to make it through the tough times, but we have to be planted by Him before we can have that strength.
How do we get planted by the Lord? We sink our roots down deep in His Word. It is His Word that gives us life and health. We allow His Word to be our light and guide when all is darkness around us.
Prov 4:20-22 (NIV) My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.
Finally, the purpose of God’s healing is so that He may be glorified. When God brings healing into our lives, it is not only to comfort us in our pain, but to glorify Him with praise and thanksgiving. He expects us to help others that are hurting—that is to comfort them with the same comfort He comforts us with.
2 Cor 1:3-4 (NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
This is why our motto in Healing Hearts is: we HURT…God HEALs…we HELP others!
Jesus came as the Messiah to declare the Year of Jubilee. As it was His mission to heal the brokenhearted as His disciples, we are to do the same. In 2006 this Year of Jubilee, God desires to heal the brokenhearted in our community. We want to be agents to be used by God to bring that healing to the brokenhearted of this area. This is the mission of our church, as it was Jesus’ mission. Let’s go and proclaim the good news to the poor and bring healing tot eh brokenhearted in our lives.
beauty for ashes—There is a play on the sound and meaning of the Hebrew words, peer, epher, literally, “ornamental headdress” or tiara (Ez 24:17), worn in times of joy, instead of a headdress of “ashes,” cast on the head in mourning (2Sa 13:19).
oil of joy—Perfumed ointment was poured on the guests at joyous feasts (Ps 23:5; Am 6:6). On occasions of grief its use was laid aside (2Sa 14:2).
garment of praise—bright-colored garments, indicative of thankfulness, instead of those that indicate despondency, as sackcloth (Jn 16:20).
trees of righteousness—Hebrew, terebinth trees; symbolical of men strong in righteousness, instead of being, as heretofore, bowed down as a reed with sin and calamity (Is 1:29, 30; Is 42:3; 1Ki 14:15; Ps 1:3; 92:12–14; Je 17:8).
planting of … Lord—(See on Is 60:21).
that he might be glorified—(Jn 15:8).[iii]
He was to be a healer. He was sent to bind up the broken-hearted, as pained limbs are rolled to give them ease, as broken bones and bleeding wounds are bound up, that they may knit and close again. Those whose hearts are broken for sin, who are truly humbled under the sense of guilt and dread of wrath, are furnished in the gospel of Christ with that which will make them easy and silence their fears. Those only who have experienced the pains of a penitential contrition may expect the pleasure of divine cordials and consolations. [iv]
He was to be a comforter, and so he is as preacher, healer, and deliverer; he is sent to comfort all who mourn, and who, mourning, seek to him, and not to the world, for comfort. Christ not only provides comfort for them, and proclaims it, but he applies it to them; he does by his Spirit comfort them. There is enough in him to comfort all who mourn, whatever their sore or sorrow is; but this comfort is sure to those who mourn in Zion, who sorrow after a godly sort, according to God, for his residence is in Zion,—who mourn because of Zion’s calamities and desolations, and mingle their tears by a holy sympathy with those of all God’s suffering people, though they themselves are not in trouble; such tears God has a bottle for (Ps. lvi. 8), such mourners he has comfort in store for. As blessings out of Zion are spiritual blessings, so mourners in Zion are holy mourners, such as carry their sorrows to the throne of grace (for in Zion was the mercy-seat) and pour them out as Hannah did before the Lord. To such as these Christ has appointed by his gospel, and will give by his Spirit (v. 3), those consolations which will not only support them under their sorrows, but turn them into songs of praise. He will give them,
(1.) Beauty for ashes. Whereas they lay in ashes, as was usual in times of great mourning, they shall not only be raised out of their dust, but made to look pleasant. Note, The holy cheerfulness of Christians is their beauty and a great ornament to their profession. Here is an elegant paronomasia in the original: He will give them pheer—beauty, for epher—ashes; he will turn their sorrow into joy as quickly and as easily as you can transpose a letter; for he speaks, and it is done.
(2.) The oil of joy, which make the face to shine, instead of mourning, which disfigures the countenance and makes it unlovely. this oil of joy the saints have from that oil of gladness with which Christ himself was anointed above his fellows, Heb. i. 9.
(3.) The garments of praise, such beautiful garments as were worn on thanksgiving-days, instead of the spirit of heaviness, dimness, or contraction—open joys for secret mournings. The spirit of heaviness they keep to themselves (Zion’s mourners weep in secret) ; but the joy they are recompensed with they are clothed with as with a garment in the eye of others. Observe, Where God gives the oil of joy he gives the garment of praise. Those comforts which come from God dispose the heart to, and enlarge the heart in, thanksgivings to God. Whatever we have the joy of God must have the praise and glory of. [v]
His ministry is described through a series of six infinitives. He is, first of all, to preach good tidings. This is from the verb basar, which means to announce or bring glad tidings. This is a clear reference to the proclamation of the gospel and to the priority of evangelism. It is interesting to note that this is mentioned first because this was the foremost objective of Christ in coming to the earth. Second, Christ will bind up the brokenhearted. He will come to place bandages of healing on broken hearts. This refers to hearts that have been broken by sin and guilt. Third, He will proclaim (qara˒) liberty. In the Hebrew this phrase is the same phrase utilized when describing the proclamation of freedom at the Year of Jubilee, when all those who were in slavery were set free. The opening of the prison. This could be literally translated “and to the bound one’s complete opening.”
2–3. Fourth, Messiah will proclaim (qara˒) the acceptable year of the Lord. It is interesting to note that when Jesus quoted from this passage, He stopped after this phrase and then proclaimed that what has been stated has already been fulfilled in their eyes. Jesus did not come for the day of vengeance of our God. He came in the fullness of time to save sinners. The next time He comes He will come with vengeance to judge the world. The fact that Jesus stopped prior to the day of vengeance clearly indicates that during His first advent, He had no intention of setting up an earthly kingdom such as is described in chapter 60. Fifth, Christ was to comfort all that mourn after His great and awesome judgments. Sixth, He would exchange the evidences of mourning with the evidences of rejoicing. The recipients of these blessings would be those who are broken because of their personal sin and the terrible condition of their society. Their ashes would be exchanged for beauty. This is the same root word that is used to describe the glory and the radiance of Jehovan who is the Light of Jerusalem. This would imply that God will give of His own radiance in exchange for the ashes of repentance. He will give the oil of joy to replace their mourning (Ps 45:8). He will give them the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. They will receive an outer mantle of praise to replace the spirit of heaviness (lit., the spirit of infirmity). The prophet then identifies the ultimate results of this messianic ministry. The people would be called trees of righteousness. The word translated trees is from the Hebrew word ˒ayl and could be translated as a strong tree, oak, or sometimes as a mighty one. The oak tree represents greatness, strength, and a tree capable of enduring all of the adverse elements of nature. God’s righteousness is that which makes His people as oak trees. Again, the final conclusion is that he might be glorified. This is a repetition of 60:21.[vi]
Psalm 34:18
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 51:17
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
Psalm 147:3
3 He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.
Joel 2:13
13 And rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil.
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d Is 57:15
v v: verb
TDNT Theological Dictionary of the New Testament
TDNTA Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume
GK Goodrick-Kohlenberger
AV Authorized Version
[i]Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the test of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.) (G4937). Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.
[ii]New Geneva study Bible. 1997, c1995. C1995 by Foundation for Reformation. (electronic ed.) (Is 61:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[iii]Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. (1997). A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments. On spine: Critical and explanatory commentary. (Is 61:3). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[iv]Henry, M. (.). E4's Matthew Henry's Complete 6 Volume Commentary (electronic ed.). :: ,.
[v]Henry, M. (.). E4's Matthew Henry's Complete 6 Volume Commentary (electronic ed.). :: ,.
lit. literally
[vi]KJV Bible commentary. 1997, c1994. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.